Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-09-02
THE CLOAK OF TRUTH.

In a. far off corner of Eastern India
there lived in the days when fairies still
visited this earth, little girl whose name
was Yuddi. Her parents were poor and
had to work hard and continuously to gain
even the small amount on which oriental
laborers are able to support life. Poor
little Yuddi's childhood was not very full
of pleasure. For her were none of the toys
and games that modern skill and ingenuity
have fashioned, to make the season of
youth enjoyable.
A few naturally rounded stones with
which a kind Of game of marbles was
Just practicable, and a bundle of rags
which did duty for a doll, were her sole
means of amusement And even these
she had but little time to enjoy; for as
soon as she was strong enough she was
required to help to weed and CLEAN in the
rice and grain fields in summer; and in
winter to assist her mother in keeping
their hut-which was made of twisted
bamboo canes plastered with mud-in
order. In the cold season Yuddi was &C.
casionally sent to a school presided oyer
by wise old Brahmin, Rhasta, who for
q few 'pice," as the smallest native coin
is called, taught his pupils as much as
their brains could absorb in the limited
time they gave to study.
Many people think that India is land
where great heat prevails the year round.
This is true only of certain of the south
ern parts; but in the north, where there
are some of the highest mountains in
the world and where farming is carried
on in the valleys between lofty hills or
upon very elevated plateaus, the cold in
winter and during the long ''rainy season.
Sc into Door V116di 1o1,f1 v
suffered much from the bitter weather,
her clothing being thin and scanty, while
the walls of the hut and the loosely fitting
doorway admitted great deal of frosty
air.
The dearest wish of her heart was for a
large warm cloak, in which she could
brave the cold when she was allowed to go
to school and wrap herself at night.
Often and often she prayed that such
good gift might be sent to her, but for q
long time in vain. She had heard great
deal about fairies who watched over good
children, yet the one who ought to have
attended on her had never made herself
known. With the sweet, trusting faith
of childhood Yuddi did not gave way to
despair, but only strove to be better girl,
believing that if her guardian had not
come it was because she had not deserved
the boon.
Late one night, after Yuddi had been
asleep for several hours, she was startled
from her slumber by voice calling in the
sweetest tones she had ever heard:
"Awake, Yuddi, and see what I have
brought theer' The child sat up on her
bed of dried rice leaves, rubbed her as
tonished eyes, which at length showed to
her the most beautiful being she had ever
seen. Yuddi knew at once that it was a
fairy. 1t was not, however, such crea-
ture as our western writers have told us
of, or that we see in pictures or upon the
stage in pantomimes and spectacular plays.
1t was not dressed in white gauze, nor did
it have butterfly like wings and magic
wand. MOI tAis was an Indian fairy,
with q dark olive tinted skin and with
bare arms and feet. Round the body was
wound In numerous folds scarf of some
many colored material, in which shone
threads Of gold. The folds fell almost to
the knees, below which appeared loose
trousers Of ssui.tgsnaparsnt alVsg gavzA